South Asia — 2026-07-02

Secret India-Pakistan Talks Held in Colombo and Bangkok With Retired Military and Diplomatic Officials as Delhi Calls Them Futile

BLUFDueling denials from Delhi and Islamabad preserve deniability for a structured crisis communication probe, keeping the channel available while insulating both governments from domestic political cost.

Two unofficial India-Pakistan dialogues occurred last week, one in Colombo organized by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies and one in Bangkok convened by a Canada-based university, with participants including retired Indian Army chief General M.M. Naravane, BJP figure Ram Madhav, and Pakistani Senator Sherry Rehman 12. The Express Tribune, citing sources, reported serving foreign ministry officials from both countries also attended the Colombo meeting, discussing crisis communication, terrorism, and water issues; Arab News noted this would make it an unusual Track 1.5 format 34. A Pakistani foreign office official told Arab News he had "no idea on anything other than Track 1," declining to confirm the reported meeting 4. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated Monday there are no official Track II dialogues with Pakistan, that attendees participate in a private capacity, and that New Delhi takes "no cognisance" of such events 2.

Analysis
Delhi's rapid on-record denial reads as domestic damage control rather than substantive engagement with the reported Track 1.5 format, and Misri's framing, lumping the dialogue in with dozens of unremarkable Track II events, works to flatten any suggestion of an emerging backchannel. The mismatch between Pakistani press sourcing on serving foreign ministry officials and Islamabad's own professed ignorance points to compartmentalized signaling rather than a coordinated channel, though reporting rests on a single Express Tribune account, with Arab News and ThePrint supplying denials rather than corroboration, leaving the core claim without cross-outlet confirmation. Ram Madhav's public rebuttal shows each side managing the story separately. The reported attendance may simply reflect routine participation in a recurring multilateral security conference rather than a deliberate parallel channel.

4 sources

Secret India-Pakistan Talks in Colombo and Bangkok Raise Hope of Peace But Delhi Calls Them Futile - EurAsian Times
'No official Track II talks with Pakistan, events held in private capacity'—Foreign Secretary Misri - ThePrint
Pakistan, India hold Colombo dialogue - The Express Tribune
Pakistan foreign office official says unaware of reported 'Track 1.5' meeting with India in Colombo - Arab News